The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Chief Minister announces relief for injured, assistance up for orphaned children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister announces relief for injured, assistance up for orphaned children

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 3. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today announced relief for those who suffered grievous injuries in the tsunami disaster, besides increasing the cash assistance for children and girls orphaned by the calamity, even as the Government finalised the points to be incorporated in the memorandum to be handed over to a Central team tomorrow.

Ms. Jayalalithaa held discussions with her Cabinet colleagues and officials on the assistance needed for relief and rehabilitation works in the coastal districts, official sources said.

She directed the Collectors of the coastal districts to conduct a survey of the aged, widows and the physically challenged so that they would be able to draw benefits under various government schemes within a week.

In a statement here, she said over 3000 persons suffered grievous injuries in the tsunami onslaught. Most of them lost their vision, and others their limbs. Each disabled person would be given an ex gratia of Rs.25, 000. Free health service would be provided to them in government hospitals. Each of those who suffered grievous injuries and treated in the hospitals as in-patients for over a week would get a cash assistance of Rs.5, 000.

Recalling her announcement that the Government would adopt orphaned children and admit them to state-run child care centres, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the quantum of cash relief would be raised to Rs. 4 lakhs for each of them. A solatium of Rs. 1 lakh earmarked from the Prime Minister's Public Relief Fund would also be deposited in their names. The deposit on maturity would be handed over to them when they attained 18 years. The move was aimed at ensuring a safe future for them.

The administration would show a similar gesture to all orphaned adolescent girls in the age group 14-18. They would be admitted to the service homes run by the State Government. New homes with boarding and lodging would be started in Kanyakumari and Nagapattinam districts. To enable these girls to become self-reliant, vocational and technical training would be offered. Funds to the tune of Rs.5 lakhs would be deposited in the names of these girls. They could receive the deposit on maturity when they attained 18 years. The funds could be utilised by them for self-employment or for educational pursuit.

Pension scheme

In a separate statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that since many of the families lost their breadwinners, the Government decided to provide pension to the women and the aged, besides a cash relief of Rs.1 lakh for the kin of each of the deceased. A monthly pension of Rs. 200 and free rice would be provided to the eligible beneficiaries under government schemes such as the old-age pension (normal) scheme, the destitute physically handicapped scheme and the destitute widows pension scheme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu